Under the patronage of Assistant Professor Dr. Dara O. Meran, President of Hawler Medical University, the official opening and introduction ceremony of the Center for Research and Education in Women's Health (CREWH) of Hawler Medical University was conducted in Dedaman Hotel, Erbil on 23 May 2017.

The ceremony was attended by parliamentarian members, representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Health, UN agencies, NGOs, universities and faculty members.Speeches by the President of Hawler Medical University and representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Health highlighted the importance of this center and the role it can take to improve the health and well being of women in the community. The University President appraised the important role of IREX, the US embassy and the University at Albany in helping the establishment of CREWH. Speeches by the representatives of UN Women and WHO appraised the idea of opening such center and emphasized its future role in enhancing the health and status of women in Kurdistan.